Friday 15 September 1665

Up, it being a cold misting morning, and so by water to the office, where very busy upon several businesses. At noon got the messenger, Marlow, to get me a piece of bread and butter and cheese and a bottle of beer and ale, and so I went not out of the office but dined off that, and my boy Tom, but the rest of my clerks went home to dinner. Then to my business again, and by and by sent my waterman to see how Sir W. Warren do, who is sicke, and for which I have reason to be very sorry, he being the friend I have got most by of most friends in England but the King: who returns me that he is pretty well again, his disease being an ague. I by water to Deptford, thinking to have seen my valentine, but I could not, and so come back again, and to the office, where a little business, and thence with Captain Cocke, and there drank a cup of good drink, which I am fain to allow myself during this plague time, by advice of all, and not contrary to my oathe, my physician being dead, and chyrurgeon out of the way, whose advice I am obliged to take, and so by water home and eat my supper, and to bed, being in much pain to think what I shall do this winter time; for go every day to Woolwich I cannot, without endangering my life; and staying from my wife at Greenwich is not handsome.

His funny valentine. His tone suggests he actually may talk to the poor lady rather than just assault and leave. I would wonder if Mrs. B. is these days trying to kill the pain by convincing herself this is a playful little romance/friendship, with our favorite merry little abusive employer dropping by on his little visits. The human mind and soul can adjust to all sorts of vile things I guess when it's a matter of life and death as William's continued employment no doubt is. I have to say while he probably delights most in the sheer brutal display of power in this affair, I suspect she can't quite be the innocent she portrayed herself to be at the start, holding his attention so long.

In case, it would make no difference as his abuse of authority... God, Sam...Does it never occur to you that there but for Sandwich's kind thought of you, go you...And your poor Bess, perhaps to Uncle Wight or some other wealthy sob?

Joseph Ash to Sir John Wolstenholme, and others, Farmers of the Customs,

Written from: Plymouth Date: 15 September 1665

Reports the arrival at Plymouth of a ship from New England which left Boston in company of another ship which was subsequently taken by a Dutch 'Caper' in the Soundings; and that since that arrival news has come of the capture of two Dutch Capers by H.M.S. Elizabeth, & another.

Of conduct, etc.: Fitting, seemly, becoming; courteous, gracious, polite. [...]1621 FLETCHER Pilgrim IV. ii, Was it fair play? did it appear to you handsome? 1673 S. C. Rules of Civility 56 Because it is not so handsom to sit full in his face, it will be esteemed good Breeding, if he place himself en profile or something side ways. 1693-4 GIBSON in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 219 'Twill be handsome for me first to apply myself to the Provost, for fear it should otherwise be not well taken. [...]

It seems to me that Tom had one and Sam the other, and our hero is merely saving himself the trouble of writing the word, "bottle", twice. There was only the one "piece" of bread and butter and cheese. I do not know, it may be that both were bottled together and they divided it into two cups or shared the same bottle. Now, which would have been Sam's preference?

Ploughman's lunch was a simple meal as every village had a baker of soughts so bread was the main staple for centuries for the clod hopping set, untill the those that came down from London town discovered it along with leftovers that have become trendy, pasties of Cornish kind, on one weekend looking up long lost relatives so that they could get sumup for nougt like some gamey game.